In the State: Ex-mayor pleads innocent to using money for psychic uses

Posted: Saturday, September 04, 2004

The Associated Press

McALLEN - The former mayor and bookkeeper of the city of La Grulla pleaded innocent Friday to charges they used federal grant money to pay for tens of thousands of dollars in psychic consultations.

Diana Cortez, the former mayor, and Sandra Lopez, the former bookkeeper, stood silently in casual street clothes as public defender Norman Mcinnis waived a reading of the indictment and entered innocent pleas.

The indictment unsealed Tuesday alleges Cortez, 48, and Lopez, 45, withdrew $53,700 between May 2002 and May 2003 to pay for consultations that included the use of tarot cards.

Man charged in deaths after RV park shootings

LIVINGSTON - A 75-year-old man has been charged with four counts of capital murder in the shooting deaths of his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandson at the RV park where they lived.

The man remained in the Polk County Jail on Friday under a suicide watch, said Mike Nettles, chief deputy for the sheriff's department. Investigators believe the shootings were a result of marital problems between the man and his wife.

The bodies were found Thursday in a burning mobile home after the elderly man surrendered to authorities.

Rainy Day Fund balance increases after transfer

AUSTIN - A total of $594.5 million was transferred Friday into the state's Rainy Day Fund, increasing its balance to $878.1 million.

"As I have said so many times before, the money in the Rainy Day Fund should only be used for an emergency," said Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

Strayhorn said the state should aim to grow the fund's balance to $3 billion.